“Can we go and see them right away?”
“Not tonight. But I have arranged for a car and Shields will drive us over tomorrow. We can stay there for a few days. I shall welcome the change for this place has been very stupid for me, my dear.”
“Poor mamma! I’ve been selfish. It’ll be a lark seeing Cora Truxton again!” Pola had explained to Sidney: “We met the Truxtons at Nice. Cora and Millicent are both older, but they’re the cutest girls. Will we go in the morning, mamma?”
Pola’s manner had indicated that the coming of the Truxtons into their plans raised a barrier that now excluded Sidney. Throughout the dinner she had talked exclusively of the trip on the morrow and the renewing of that acquaintance that had begun in Nice. But Sidney felt nothing but a sense of escape.
She found Aunt Achsa alone in the cottage on Sunset Lane. She was sitting on the doorstep, “coolin’ off.” Sidney sat down beside her.
“Where’s Lavender?” she asked, wishing Lavender was at home that she might begin her “making up” at once.
“Don’t know. And I wish I did. Don’t know what’s gotten into that boy. I’m as worried as can be.”
“About Lav? Oh, what’s the matter?” For Aunt Achsa was close to tears. Something must have happened to break her habitual optimism.
“He’s acted so queer like lately. Cal’late you’d of noticed it if you hadn’t been off so much with Mr. Dugald’s folks. I thought it might a’ been his stomach and I put a powder into his coffee, but he ain’t been a mite different—”
“But what does he do, Aunt Achsa? He looks all right—”